Automatic stoker



May 29, 1934. E. T WARNER ET AL AUTOMATIC STOKER.

Filed Aug. 29, l92'7 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edgar T Warner flaogoh 0054M]?! I attorney;

y 1934- E. T. WARNER- ET AL 60,835

AUTOMATIC STOKER Filed Aug. 29, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L I Q! I Edgar T [[fcrrner H c1040]? Ozzsaa/zl May 29, 1934- E. T. WARNER ET AL AUTOMATIC STOKER Filed Aug. 29, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet s Quorum Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STOKE-R- Edgar T. Warner and Adolph Ousdahl, Seattle, Wash., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Henry M. Brooks, New York, N. Y., William Tudor Gardiner, Augusta, Maine, and Richard Kingsley Hawes, Fall River, Mass, as trustees Application August 29, 1927, Serial No. 216,058,

9 Claims. (Cl. 110-45) Our invention relates to. an improvement in automatic stokers, and is particularly intended as an improvement'upon stokers of the general type illustrated in the U. S. Letters Patent, Adolph Ousdahl, No. 1,785,456 and No. 1,886,577.

Its object is generally to simplify. and improve the construction. and operation of such devices, particularly to the end of simplifying and improving the general organization, and at the sametime providing that the various parts may be assembled readily, and readily disassembled and the machine opened for inspection and. re-

pair, and ready access given the conduit or conduits.

Our invention comprises the novel parts andto the interior of e the novel combination and arrangement thereof, disclosed in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification, and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown our invention in a form which is now preferred by us.

Figure 1 is a general axial section through the feed end of such'a device.

this view illustrates the feed of being taken out.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the feed end, showingthe manner in which the ash feed screw may be withdrawn.

screws in process Figure 5 is a. section on line 5-'-5 of Figure 1, and Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 1. In general our invention relates to a stoker hav ing a coalsupplying device, for example a coal hopper, and a coal conduit through which the coal is pushed from this coal supplying device by some suitable feed means, of which a feed screw is typical, into a burner. There may also be provided an ash removal conveyor or screw, by

means of which ashes swept up at the burner and collected within an ash conduit, may be withdrawn and delivered to a receiver.

A motor operating through suitable reduction gearing drives the ash feed screw and the coal feed screw, and

also drives a fan which suppli motor and coal feed screw may erably, through the medium of a ratchet device,-

which is adjustable to vary the es air under pres-, sure to the burner. The connection between the be direct, or, prefrate of feed. The

described.

Our present invention is desi gn'ed to enable the device tobe readily disassembled or. assembled, even in close quarters, and, generally, to simplify the manner of assembling the various parts and permitting their engagement and disengagement at will.

The coal supplying device, specifically a hopper 9, is connected through a conduit 90 to a burner 91. Ash sweepers 92 rotatable over an ash ring 93 sweep ashes falling from the burner 91 into an open-ended conduit 94, through which the ashes are drawn until they can be delivered into a suitable receptacle. The feeding of coal is effected through a coal feed screw, or like conveyor, designated by the numeral 1, and movement of ashes is similarly accomplished by means of an ash conveyor 2. A motor 95, suitably mounted upon a base 3, operates through reduction gearing enclosed within the casing 96 and. a ratchet device which-need not be described here in de tial. but which is secured upon the ends of the shaft 4, to drive the screw 1 to which the inner. end of the shaft 4 is connected.

' The hopper 9 rests on the base 3, and is provided with two apertures in its walls, near its bottom, one registering with an aperture 30 in the base 3 (Fig. 3) and the other being located in the opposite hopper wall for registration with the outer end of conduit 90, It will be noted that the "bottom portion of the hopper 9, which may be of greater length than width and preferably is contracted to more or less of a trough form (see Figs. 2 and 4), is aligned with the conduit at the outer end of thev latter (Fig. 3); in eiiect therefore the 'bottom portion of the hopper 9 constitutes a'portion of the conduit, and in effect the major and upper portion of the hopper feeds into this conduit from above as through a horizontal aperture (specifically, the open top-side, of the trough) in the top side of the outer end portion of the conduit. This end of the conduit, then, is closed by some such means as the bushing 40 within which the shaft 4 is journaled. This bushing is suitably secured in place, as, for example, within apertures 30 in a projection rising upwardly from the body of the base 3 (Figs. 1 and 3) and by means of screws 41. The hopper 9 rests on the body of base 3 against the uprising projection'of the base, and between the projection and the burner (Figs. 1 and 3), and the apertures 30 are made of a size that will permit withdrawal 105 of the bushing 40, the screw 1, and, of course, the shaft i journaled in the bushing, as a unit. 'Thus,

by removing the screws 41 which are accessible from. the outer end of the base, the entire coal feed assembly may be withdrawn as a unit. This 119 feed means, which we will later describe, with this unit, or by disconnecting and removing this ratchet feed means.

Thus, as will be noted in Figure 2, the ratchet feed means includes a ratchet pinion 42, a dog- 43, carried on an arm 44, this arm being oscillatable by means of arm 45 connected by a pitman 46 with a rotative crank 47, driven from the motor 95. It is only necessary to remove the cotter pin 49 which secures the pitman to the crank arm 47, or this and the cotter pin 48 which secures it to the crank arm 45, whereupon the entire ratchet assembly may be withdrawn as a unit from the end of the shaft. While this permits freer access to the screws 41 which are behind it, nevertheless these screws may be withdrawn without removal of the ratchet assembly, and in this manner the entire feed assembly may be withdrawn as a unit, as illustrated in Figure 3.

It 'will be noted that where it is desirable, because of the limited space in which to work, to disconnect the shaft 4 from the feed screw,1, this may readily be done by removal of the set screws or bolts 10, which secure the squared end 11 of the shaft 1 within the socket 12 of a head secured upon the end of the shaft 4. It will be noted further that entrance of dirt, grit and the like is effectually prevented by packing .13 within the'end of the bushings 40, and that anti-friction bearings may be provided, as indicated at 14, to take the end thrust 'of the feed screw 1. The packing at 13 effectually protects these bearings 14.

Similarly, if it is desired to withdraw the ash screw 2, this may be done in a manner altogether analogous to that just described. Thus the bushing 5 within which a shaft 50 is journaled, is received in the end of the ash conduit 94. Preferably, because it is desired to have the ash feed screw 2 of considerably smaller diameter than the ash conduit, and to have it lie on or close to the bottom of this conduit, this bushing is more directly received in eccentric collars 51, which are retained in the end of the conduit 94 and, in effect, form a part thereof. Anti-friction and end thrust bearings 52 and packing means 53 are provided,

as in the case of the bushings 40. The shaft 50, however, extends well out from the end of the ash screw 2 to which it is connected, into position to be engaged for manual operation. The base 3 is provided with a wide, hollow space or aperture, as indicated at 31, through which this extension of the shaft 50 passes. At its outer end, in order that it may be turned to feed the ashes manually, a small removable journal bearing'32 is provided; and its end 54 is squared for the reception of a crank handle.

Driving of the ash feed screw and itsshaft 50 is accomplished, as shown herein, by means of a sprocket wheel 55, secured upon the shaft 50, which is, in turn, driven through a chain 60 from a sprocket 6 on a shaft 61, this carrying a sprocket wheel 62 driven from a sprocket 63 on shaft 64, through a chain 65. Shaft 64, as is seen in Figure 1, extends within the gear box 96, and is driven from the gearing therein. It is immaterial, however, whether this drive be direct from the motor, as shown, or through the intermittent or ratchet means by which the shaft 4 is driven, except as the direct drive described makes it simpler to remove one screw without disturbing the other.

When it is desired to remove the ash feed screw, which is attached to the end of the shaft 50 by 1,960,835 may be done either by withdrawing the ratchet the socket and screw means shown and previously described, and including the set screws 56, it is only necessary to loosen a link of the chain 60, whereby the chain may be dropped, and then to withdraw the entire assembly from the conduit 94 through the aperture 31 in the base 3. It will be understood, of course, that the journal 32 must be removed, or dispensed with in some manner, and to that end a screw 33 has been shown, which, by its removal, will permit withdrawal of the journal 32.

Such axial withdrawal of the screws 1 and 2 is permitted by reason of the fact that at their outer ends either they do not engage any other member to turn it, or are so engaged therewith that axial movement frees them. Thus, forexample, as seen in Figure 3, the shaft 7 carrying a small pinion 70, is provided with a socket 71 and is journaled in a bushing 72 in the ash remover associated with the burner. The squared end 21 of the screw 2 is received in the socket 71. Thus, it will be evident that axial movement of the screw 2 withdraws it from the socket without disturbing the drive connection at this end. Re-insertion of the screw will permit re-engagement of this squared end 21 with its socket 71.

The ash feed screw assembly is ordinarily somewhat longer than the coal feed assembly. In places where the space is limited, as illustrated in Figure 4, where a wall W lies close to the end of the machine, it may be necessary to separate the shaft 50 from the screw 2, and if this is required, it may readily be accomplished by removal of the screws 56, following partial withdrawal of the assembly. Thus, the space required to manipulate need never be longer than the longest element, which, in this case, is the screw 2, and even less than this may be made to serve, by reason of the fact that the aperture 31 is wide laterally, or freed from obstructions, so that by drawing the screw to one side, as it is being withdrawn, it may be withdrawn in a clear space less than its extreme length. Similarly, the apertures 30 of the base through which the feed screw 1 is withdrawn, are made wide laterally, or free of obstruction, to permit similar turning aside of this screw assembly.

By the means desdr'ibed, it will be evident that if either of these screws becomes clogged, or if it should be necessary or desirable for any reason to inspect them or to withdraw them, it is only necessary to perform a very simple operation, such as the removal of the screws 41 or the removal of a link from the chain 60, and the entire assembly may be withdrawn. It is not necessary to disturb the drive relationship of the parts, or to take down complicated assemblies, and they can similarly be re-inserted with as little effort. The mounting of the ratchet drive means, ordinarily a complicated arrangement in such burners, is such in the present invention that it is easily disconnected or connected again, and offers no obstacle to the ready disassembly of the machine.

It will be understood from the above that our invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated in the drawings and described above, except as indicated in the following claims.

'What we claim as our invention is:

1. The combination, in a stoker, of a base having an aperture for the insertion and removal therethrough of the feed screw conveyor hereinafter mentioned, said aperture being located adjacent the position of the hopper-end of the said screw conveyor when the latter is in operating position, a fuel hopper mounted on said base and having bottom apertures one of which registers with the aperture of the. base and the other of which is located in the opposite wall of the hop-'- per, a bushing removably secured in the base aperture, a shaft extending therethrough and journaled therein, a screw conveyor extending into the bottom of the hopper through said aperture may be withdrawn as a unit, or can be withdrawn, upon releasing the connection of the conveyor and shaft as two units and drive means mounted on said base and operatively but detachably connected with the outer end of said shaft.

2. .The combination, ina stoker, of a conduit, 21 bushing normally positioned within the end of said conduit, a shaft journaled therein, a feed screw secured to the inner end of said shaft, and lying within the conduit, said feed screw being of less diameter than the conduit, and lying near its bottom, eccentric collars in the end of said conduit and cooperating with said bushing to close the same, and drive means detachably connected to the outer end of said shaft, whereby the shaft, the bushing, and the feed screw may be withdrawn as a unit.

3. In an automatic coalburning apparatus, the combination of a burner member, a coal supplying device located remote therefrom, a permanently-placed substantially-horizontal material-carrying conveyor conduit extending from. the burner member toward the base member. hereinafter mentioned, ascrew conveyor in said conduit arranged to be withdrawn from the conduit by lengthwise movement when its end remote from the burner-member is released, mechanism for driving said screw conveyor, said mechanism including a motor and speed reducing gearing, a base .member located opposite that end of said conveyor conduit which is remote from said burner member, said driv-- I ing mechanism being mounted directly on and being carried by said base member and said base member having an opening therethrough substantially in line with said conveyor screw and larger than the cross dimension of the conveyor screw, means-remote from the burner member for confining the screw conveyor movement when its end remote from the burnermember is released, mechanism for driving said screw conveyor, said mechanism including a motor and speed reducing gearing, a base member to rest on the floor of the room in which the apparatus is used opposite the receiving end of said conduit, said driving mechanism being mounted directly on and being carried by said .base member and said'base member having an opening therethrough substantially in line with said conveyor screw and larger than the cross dimensions'of the conveyor screw, means at said opening for confining the screw conveyor in said conduit and for journaling the adjacent endof the screw conveyor, a coal supplying device to deliver coal to the conduit between said means and the burner member, and means for releasably attaching the first mentioned means to saidbase member.

5. In an automatic coal burning apparatus, the

combination of a burner, a base remote therefrom having an uprising projection provided with an aperture therethrough lengthwise of the screw conveyor hereinafter mentioned and larger than the cross dimensions of the conveyor screw, a

fuel hopper mounted on said base against said projection, between said projection and the burner, said hopper having a bottom aperture registering with the aperture of said projection and an outlet aperture, said hopperapertures being also larger than the cross dimensions of said conveyor screw, a coal conduit extending from said burner to the outlet aperture of said hopper, a screw conveyor in said conduit arranged to be withdrawn lengthwise from the burner and conduit when its end remote from the burner is released, and to. be replaced again by movement lengthwise of i the conveyor screw, and means remote from the burner for confining said screw conveyor in the conduit and for journaling the end of the screw conveyor remote from the burner including a bushing at said aperture .of the projection rising'fromthe base and a shaft extending through and journalled in saidbushing, the inner end of said shaft being releasably connected to the outer end of said screw conveyor for rotation of the screw conveyor and the support of the outer end of the latter by said shaft, and said bushing being 'removably secured to said base, whereby the screw conveyor can be withdrawn lengthwise by operations at the end of the screw conveyor remote from the burner.

6. In an automatic coal burning apparatus, the combination of a burner member, a permanently-placedsubstantially horizontal conveyor conduit extending from the burner member toward thebase member hereinafter mentioned, a screw conveyor in said conduit arranged to be withdrawn from the conduit by lengthwise movement when its end remote from the burnermember is released, a base member to rest on the floor opposite the receiving end of said conduit, said base member having an opening therethrough substantially in line with said conveyor screw andlarger than the cross dimensions of the conveyor screw, means at said opening for confining the screw conveyor in said conduit and for journaling the adjacent end of the screw conveyor, a coal hopper to deliver coal to the conduit-between said means and the burner member, means for releasably attaching the first mentioned means to said base' member, a

driving motor and speed reducing gearing driven thereby mounted on said base member, and.

.readily-disconnectible means connecting said HIP speed reducing -gearing to said screw conveyor through which the speed reducing gearing drives said conveyor.

7. In an automatic coal burning apparatus, the

combination of a burner member a coal supplying.

'to be withdrawn from the conduit by lengthwise movement when its end remote from the burnermember is released, mechanism for driving'said screw conveyor, a base membenfcarrying said driving mechanism, located opposite that end of said conveyor conduit which is remote from said burner member, said base member having an opening therethrough substantially in line withsaidconveyor screw and larger than the cross dimension of the conveyor screw, means remote from the burner member for confining the screw conveyor in the conduit and for journalling the end of the screw conveyor remote from the burner member, said means being mounted on said base member and including a bushing and a shaft, journalled in said bushing, connectable to the adjacent end of said screw conveyor for driving the latter, and means for removably attaching the first mentioned means to said base member.

8. In an automatic coal burning apparatus, the combination of a burner member, a permanently-placed substantially-horizontal conveyor conduit extending from the burner member toward the base member hereinafter mentioned, a screw conveyor in said conduit arranged to be Withdrawn from the conduit by lengthwise movement when its end remote from the burner-mem- Her is released, mechanism for driving said screw conveyor, a base member, to rest on the floor of the room in which the apparatus is used, carrying said driving mechanism, opposite the receiving end of said conduit, said base member having an opening therethrough substantially in line with said conveyor screw and larger than the cross diifiensions of the conveyor screw, means at said opening for confining the screw conveyor in said conduit and for journalling the adjacent end of the screw conveyor, said means being mounted on said base member and including a bushing and a shaft, journalled in said bushing, connectable to the adjacent end of said screw conveyor for driving the latter, a coal supplying device to deliver coal to the conduit between said means and the burner member, and means for releasably attaching the first mentioned means to said base member.

9. In an automatic coal burning apparatus, the combination of a burner member, a coal supplying device located remote therefrom, a permanently-placed substantially-horizontal materialcarrying conveyor conduit extending from the burner member toward the base member hereinafter mentioned, a. screw conveyor in said conduit arranged to be withdrawn from the conduit by lengthwise movement when its end remote from the burner-member is released, mechanism for driving said screw conveyor, a base member, carrying said driving mechanism, located opposite that end of said conveyor conduit which is remote from said burner member, said base member having an opening therethrough substantially in line with said conveyor screw and larger than the cross dimension of the conveyor screw, means remote from the burner member for confining the screw conveyor in the conduit and for journalling the end of the screw conveyor remote from the burner member, said means being mounted on said base member and including a bushing, a shaft, journalled in said bushing, connectable to the adjacent end of said screw conveyor for driving said screw conveyor, and means to sustain the end thrust of said screw conveyor, and means for removably attaching the first mentioned means to said base member.

EDGAR T. WARNER. ADOLPH OUSDAHL. 

